I CAN PROVIDE A KIT OF THE IDEAL WOOD FOR
MOLDS, PROTECTED PLASTIC AND
A SHEET OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING YOUR OWN PLASTIC DIAL COVERS.
THESE DIAL COVERS ARE THE SAME AS THE ONES I MADE OVER 5000
OF BEFORE MY STROKE. NO VACUUM DEVICE IS REQUIRED, THE PLASTIC IS
NOT OF THE TYPE NORMALLY AVAILABLE FROM
HOBBY STORES FOR THE MAKING OF COCKPITS AND SUCH. THE INSTRUCTIONS
ARE
COMPLETE IN EVERY WAY.
THE KIT CONSISTS OF SIX PIECES OF PLASTIC 6 1/2"
x 6 1/2", SIX PIECES OF FIVE PLY PLYWOOD 6 1/2" X 6 1/2" AND
A PAGE OF INSTRUCTIONS WHICH ARE THE RESULT OF PRODUCING OVER 5000 PLASTIC
DIALCOVERS OVER THE PAST YEARS. MY STROKE HAS LEFT IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR
ME TO CONTINUE MAKING THEM FOR YOU. POSTAGE IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
AS IS NORMAL FOR ALL MY PROJECTS.
PRICE FOR THE KIT IS $18.00 OR ABOUT
$3.00 PER UNIT.
*
NEW !
Due to many requests for a kit which includes materials for larger
dial covers I am now offering a LARGE KIT with three (3) 11 x 11 inch pieces
of the correct plastic and three pieces of mold material (plywood).
Same price as above. Please specify which kit you need when ordering.
*
Here is my technique used for making dial covers
Required supplies:
1) One 6-1/2 x 6-1/2 inch plastic with
the surface protectorant remaining on each surface.
2) Two pieces of 6-1/2 x 6-1/2 five
ply 1/4"plywood.
3) Saw blade, .100 width, .018 thick,
15 teeth per inch for best cuts.
4) Sandpaper.
Use one piece of plywood as the base.
This piece can be reused repeatedly.
Put a piece of cardboard inside the radio
and mark around the inside of the dial from the outside. Carefully
cut out the dial shaped piece of cardboard and center it on a second piece
of plywood. Draw around the cardboard and cut it out using a jigsaw
or scroll saw with a .018 thickness blade. Save the outer portion of
this piece! It will be used later. With sandpaper bevel the edge
of the inner piece you just cut out to approximate the curve on the outside
edge of your old dial cover and smooth its outer edges.
Place the base down first. Place the
smaller piece that you just cut in the center of the base. Place the
plastic piece over this. Do not remove the protective coating from
the plastic.
With sandpaper smooth the inside hole of
the piece that was saved earlier. Place this piece on top of the base,
cutout and plastic. This 'sandwich' goes into the oven on a pie tray
or cookie sheet at 250 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Then remove it and
immediately press down the top piece of plywood over the mold. Use
gloves, rags so as to not burn yourself.
Then clamp this sandwich together and place
in the freezer for 5 minutes. Afterwards disassemble the sandwich,
remove the protective coating and trim to proper size and shape for attachment
into your bezel or cabinet.
* * *
RadioDaze has a line
of printed glass dial scales and now handles the line of decals and plastic
dial reproductions formerly done by Rock Sea Enterprises.
Mark Oppat also carries the
line of printed dial scales previously produced by Clint Blais
including Zenith, RCA and Philco.
I have available convex glass replacements in round only, sorry no
oval shapes. Sizes available range from 2" to 8-1/2" and they come
in 1/16" increments so measure accurately before ordering.